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September 3, 2007

G138: Red Sox 13, Blue Jays 10

Not a pitchers' duel.

Blue Jays - 100 008 100 - 10 16 1Red Sox - 302 503 00x - 13 16 1

Through four innings, both Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia had scored three runs each. Toronto battled back, battering Dice and Javier Lopez in the sixth, but Boston immediately regained enough of its cushion for relievers Hideki Okajima, Mike Timlin and Jonathan Papelbon. (box)

Mike Lowell reached base in all five of his plate appearances, including a three-run dong in the first (which gave him 100 RBI) and singles in the sixth and seventh. Every hitter in the starting lineup had a hit -- and everyone but Coco Crisp scored a run.

7 GA and a Magic # of 18 (any combination of Boston wins and MFY losses totalling 18 = Red Sox winning the East title). ... Watch out for jumpers on the George Washington Bridge!

***

This afternoon in the Bronx: Seattle 7, New York 1. Billy: 4-8-5-1-2, 62. Followed by Mussina: 3.2-7-2-0-1, 62. For the Mariners, Felix went 7-5-1-4-5, 114.

In 10 starts since late June, Litsch (whose Gameday photo frightens me) has a 2.48 ERA. Last Tursday, he held Oakland to two runs and four hits in six innings.

Matsuzaka allowed five runs in 6.1 innings aganst the Yankees in his last start. The Red Sox have lost each of his last four starts (5-6, 5-6, 1-2, 3-5). Matsuzaka has walked a lot of guys lately -- 25.1 IP, 20 H, 14 BB, 22 K, 4.97 ERA -- but only three of those 14 walks have scored. Opponents are hitting .222/.330/.367 against Dice.

The Chokers (6 GB and closer to third place than first) begin a series at home this afternoon against the Mariners, who have lost nine in a row after winning seven of eight. It's Felix Hernandez (4.08, 104 ERA+) / Fat Billy (4.15, 104 ERA+). New York is 2 GA of Seattle and 3 GA of Detroit in the wild card standings; Toronto lurks 5.5 GB. The Tigers are off today.

Quick observation. Take a look at some of the better Yankee blogs (waswatching, no maas, lohud). You'll find comment about the awful Tampa series, conjecture about Mussina's future, condolences to the hard-luck Andy Phillips. But one thing you won't find? A single mention regarding the Sox.

Things seem a bit different around here. And it reminds me that to be a Red Sox fan is to define yourself not only in terms of your team, but in terms of the Yankees as well. In other words, it's The Joy of Sox (Relative To Whatever the Yankees Are Doing).

Pedro's fastball today is between 82-84 to start. He served one to Alex Gonzalez who shot it over left field to the base of the wall. 2nd and 3rd, 0 out. (lead-off hitter Hamilton hit a little squibber that died in the grass)

Things seem a bit different around here. And it reminds me that to be a Red Sox fan is to define yourself not only in terms of your team, but in terms of the Yankees as well. In other words, it's The Joy of Sox (Relative To Whatever the Yankees Are Doing).

Which I find odd.

Blah, blah, blah.

I don't speak for all Red Sox fans. I write what I want. Other bloggers write what they want.

Your definition of what constitutes a Red Sox fan means nothing to me.

I have no interest in any Yankee blog, even the "better" ones. And boy, does that statement reveal a lot about you. Cheering for the Red Sox and wishing abject failure on the Yankees is just normal and in no way "defines" anyone.

Laura and I were supposed to met someone she knew outside the Toilet. He had the tickets and apparently got stuck at work and never showed up. We took the subway back home and got in around the 4th inning. Watched the rest, then rewound the VCR (which I had set) and watched the innings we missed.

Our seats were not going to be very good -- upper deck down the LF line -- but damn. I wish I had been there.

One great stat from that game is that the Yankees did not hit a fair ball on any of Pedro's last 52 pitches!

Saberhagen and Lowe gave up 8 runs in the first three innings before Pedro came in from the bullpen and threw 6 hitless innings, walking 3, striking out 8, allowing the Red Sox to rally back and beat the Indians, 12-8._______Ichiro hit an RBI single, scoring Betancourt. 5-1 Seattle after 3.5

I got in the shower with the score in the M's game 1-1; the Yanks had two on and no out in the bottom of the 2nd. I checked afterwards to see how many runs they'd scored and it was 2-1 M's in the fourth! The the 3-run fourth...nice time for them to remember how to play some baseball. Even if they can't get back in it themselves, it'd be great for them to take a game or two from the Yanks here.

Yeah, I remember that '99 game. Back in those days TV-38 Friday night Sox games were the only non-Blue Jay games we got (outside of FOX Saturdays). Pedro was so damn good that night, it was like he had the ball on a string. I hate Chili Davis to this day.

I was 12 years old in 1999, so I certainly don't remember much at all. I remember some bits and pieces. I remember the all-star game. That would be the second game I'd want to watch. But everything after the 1999 playoffs until the 2003 season was pretty much a blur for me.

I was in Thailand in 1999 and could not find any baseball on satellite TV, had to read little box scores in the paper.

I find that I follow the Yankees closely and that it's part of being a Red Sox fan. At least for me. I'm aware that it's a little weird, and in a way is almost like being a Yankee fan. But, so be it. It's all baseball and I like baseball. I also follow the Braves, Giants, Rockies, and A's with varying qualities of emotional investment.

The only Yankee blog I look at sometimes is Replacement Level; I do so because it's interesting and statistically oriented (which I'm not). I see some very in-depth and (largely) intelligent conversation about the Red Sox. The Yankee fans I know are also up on the Red Sox, so I don't find any ring of truth to what Harley says.

To me, it's part of the rivalry. You want to know the "enemy" as well as you know yourself.

I think it's also a different feeling on the Red Sox side of things. The Yankees will always feel like Big Brother to me--like they've always got the edge. So when the Red Sox are beating the Yankees, whether it be in a game or in the standings, it feels better than against any other team.

You think about it: Bigger city, bigger payroll, bigger stadium. A Yankee fan may be more inclined to expect the Yankees to beat the Red Sox (or catch them, in this case) to the point where they may or may not even follow the Red Sox as much. But I wouldn't know because I'm not a Yankees fan and I don't know any Yankees fan enough to know how they feel on the matter.

RS, I have Joe Castiglione's call of the 9th inning of Clay Buchholz's no-hitter as well as the post-game interview on WRKO. Finally figured out how to get it onto my computer.

Wow. There were men on first and second for Seattle. Jose Lopez bunted, Mussina fielded, threw to third, got the lead runner. But then, A-Rod fired to first and got Lopez. The ol' 1-5-4 DP. Cano covering.

But that doesn't stop Yuniesky Betancourt from hitting an RBI double over Damon's head.

I cut up the big 22 MB (16 minute) file for the 9th inning. I have the 9th inning itself, cutting off the interview, as well as just the final inning, just the final pitch, and just the interview with Buchholz.

There are these two kids, about 12 years old or so, in the booth with the Cincinnati announcers. One is a Reds fan, and one is wearing what appears to be a Chicago Bears hat and a Pedro shirt. That kid told them he's a Reds fan, but likes Pedro and wanted to see him get a no-decision. Heh.

Of course there is no mention on thos other "good" blogs of the sox. That is the Yankees nation problem. They are so high and mighty and can't be bothered by things that aren't in pinstripes. The fun part of being a Boston fan is to enjoy the success of our team which in an organized league is by definition relative to the success of other teams. It is funny how the New Yorkers are so blind to the reality of the game. Even the broadcasters are of this mindset. Squirrel. That is all.

I find that I follow the Yankees closely and that it's part of being a Red Sox fan. At least for me.

This is like living in Canada, the way Canadians follow US news. We have to, as it effects the entire world, and effects Canada very directly. How can we not pay attention to the Yankees? They have been our division rivals for... forever.

The Yankee fans I know are also up on the Red Sox, so I don't find any ring of truth to what Harley says.

So nice to be back on the west coast, where evening games start at 4pm, and I can see the MFY losing before noon, after a week back east. Of course, I was convinced the Sox couldn't win with me away from home after losing 4 in a row. Lucky for me, I have GDGD on my cellphone, and was able to see what was unfolding real-time on Saturday night. I got the kids to bed just in time to catch the 9th on ESPN. What an exciting season!

"You think about it: Bigger city, bigger payroll, bigger stadium. A Yankee fan may be more inclined to expect the Yankees to beat the Red Sox (or catch them, in this case) to the point where they may or may not even follow the Red Sox as much. But I wouldn't know because I'm not a Yankees fan and I don't know any Yankees fan enough to know how they feel on the matter."

While I can confirm what redsock said about them having Boston Sucks shirts (and these little black & white signs that said the same) for as far back as I can remember, having grown up going to Yankee Stadium more than Fenway, (as well as the fact that there's always been that "buzz" when the Sox are at the Stadium), I will say that what ish said above IS a fairly accurate description of PRE-2004 Yankee fans. But now they're so concerned with us it's not even funny. I'm not going to go to any Yankee blogs/boards to check if they're talking about the Sox, but I can assure you they're thinking about us right now:)

To further my last post, then I'll shut up about it. So, about harley's "quick observation," what is that called when a person says his people aren't concerned with his rival people AT the rival people's home base? Irony or what? "Hmmm, I'm totally not thinking about the Red Sox right now--I've gotta run to a Red Sox blog and tell them!!!" I wonder if every Yankee fan on that blog who wasn't thinking about the Sox also went to their favorite Sox blog to tell them the news.

Nah, can't make it. My sister is making her annual visit from Florida. Bad timing, but what can ya do. Maybe Jays beat down Yanks for WC and we can catch some AL pennant games at the Dome. (Buffy is quite excited about possible beatdowns).

I looked at a couple of pictures of Paul Bunyan... wrong colored hair, Bunyan's got him beat with facial hair. I think the fact that Matt Stairs currently lives in Bangor, Maine got him going, too. But I'm gonna run with it! :)

Thought of redsock when I heard Remy say how he doesn't mind Mondays as much as most people do. If only he can begin to accept the late hours and travel that go hand-in-hand with the job he signed up for!